The UNC field hockey team’s 22-game winning streak, dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season, came to an end Sunday in overtime, as No. 7 Iowa upset No. 1 Carolina in Chapel Hill. It’s only the Tar Heels’ third-ever loss in Karen Shelton Stadium, which opened in 2018.

UNC scored first and held a 2-1 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Hawkeyes equalized on a penalty corner and then needed just 1:41 of sudden-death overtime to score the game-winning goal. It was the only shot between the two teams in the extra period. In fact, Carolina’s offense went without a shot for the final 16:28 of game action. Iowa outshot the Tar Heels 7-0 in the fourth quarter after managing just five over the first 45 minutes.

Katie Dixon and Ryleigh Heck both scored for the Tar Heels, who suffered their first loss under rookie head coach Erin Matson. Matson’s team will now take its first road trip of her tenure, a visit to Philadelphia for the ACC-Ivy Challenge next weekend. Carolina will play hosts Penn on Friday and face off with Princeton the following Sunday.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jerome M. Ibrahim

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Field Hockey Loses Late Lead, Falls to No. 20 Old Dominion at Home
Despite leading 4-1 in the third quarter and carrying a 4-2 lead into the final 15 minutes, UNC fell to No. 20 Old Dominion 5-4 in overtime at Karen Shelton Stadium Friday. The Tar Heels had race out to a 2-0 lead in a dominant first quarter, one which saw UNC hold the Monarchs without […]
UNC Field Hockey Beats No. 2 Princeton After Penalty Shootout
Freshman Sofia Ferri scored in the fifth and final round of a penalty shootout to help UNC beat No. 2 Princeton 1-0 at Karen Shelton Stadium Sunday afternoon. SHOOTOUT DUB ✅ HOUSE PROTECTED ✅#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/3pwTU3NUba — Carolina Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) September 6, 2026 The two teams had played to a scoreless draw after […]
UNC Field Hockey Throttles Penn for First Win of 2026 Season
UNC led 4-0 at halftime on its way to a 7-0 thrashing of visiting Penn at Karen Shelton Stadium Friday night as part of the ACC-Ivy League Conference Crossover. The win is Carolina’s first of the 2026 season. Home sweet shutout home 🏡#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/bQFxj7HqLf — Carolina Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) September 4, 2026 The […]
This Week in UNC Sports: August 31-September 6, 2026
This series of posts will be made weekly on Chapelboro with a full schedule of UNC sports contests, both in Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Note that game times and broadcast information are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. The first week of September means that fall sports are well and truly […]
UNC Field Hockey Loses to No. 11 Iowa; Now 0-2 to Start 2026 Season
UNC allowed the tying and go-ahead goals in a span of 3:03 in the third quarter vs. No. 11 Iowa Sunday, and the Hawkeyes held that onto that lead to deal the Tar Heels a 3-2 loss. It’s Carolina’s second consecutive loss to open the 2026 season. The Tar Heels led 2-1 at halftime on […]
UNC Field Hockey Falls in Overtime vs. No. 14 Michigan in 2026 Season Opener
A Michigan goal less than five minutes into sudden-death overtime helped the No. 14 Wolverines upset No. 2 UNC 2-1 in the 2026 season opener in Winston-Salem Friday. This is the first time Carolina has dropped its opening game of the season since 2022. After the game – which was delayed by two hours due […]
Jason DeCaro, Reese Brantmeier, Ryleigh Heck Named 2026 Patterson Medal Winners
UNC announced the 2026 class of Patterson Medal winners Tuesday morning. The Patterson Medal, first awarded in 1924, is the school’s most prestigious honor for athletic excellence and career achievement. To receive the award, Tar Heel athletes must have competed in at least three seasons for UNC and have exhausted their collegiate eligibility. The 2026 […]
UNC Field Hockey Releases 2026 Regular Season Schedule
The UNC field hockey program has released its schedule for the 2026 regular season. It will be the program’s fourth year under the leadership of head coach Erin Matson. The moment you've all been waiting for 🥳 The 2026 Carolina Field Hockey schedule is here! pic.twitter.com/3m0maMAqSK — Carolina Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) July 26, 2026 UNC […]
UNC Field Hockey Head Coach Erin Matson to Appear on New ABC Series
UNC field hockey head coach Erin Matson will be featured on the latest episode of the ABC series “The Champion’s Edge with Bonnie Bernstein.” The series, which premiered in May, “highlights women excelling in their professional fields and spotlights the lessons they have learned as athletes that drive their successes while featuring practical advice on […]
Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network Takeover
The ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]
›